It’s finally here! The moment you’ve been waiting for. I know. I know. You’ve been glued to G to C Magazine, waiting for updates and withering on the inside from lack of local music. I apologize and there will be no further delays.

But I must delay! If only for dramatic suspense. You see for the past few months we’ve been incubating a new organism here at G to C. And it’s finally….ALIVE! Rising from the ooze, slimy and triumphant…its…

Well its been a year. An, yes, like all first birthdays we’ve got cake all over our faces.

We’re a little older, a little wiser. A little closer to approaching whatever’s at the end of the G to C rainbow.

Which brings us to our next point: the future.

What’s in store for G to C Magazine?

Some say we should break into the amateur boxing circuit. Set up boxing matches. Yeah, low level amateur boxing. That’s the ticket.

Some say we should trade our banjos for turntables. Or turn our banjos into turntables. Something like that.

Some say we should just ditch the whole thing, pawn our parents furniture and move to Tijuana til the money and blow runs out. Buuuuut, some of us have warrants in Mexico, for, uhhh, totally not doing that before.

Well whatever the future holds for G to C Magazine rest assured. No, thats’ just it. Rest assured. Its good advice.

Maybe you didn’t even know we were having a folk festival. Well we are. And its going to be the best collection of local folk music this year. Just sayin…

We’ve been waiting, and hiding and keeping it a secret until now. But here it is.

G to C Summer Folk Festival

Saturday August 18th

Strange Americans – Folk music has never been so loud! Strange Americans takes Matt Hoffman’s folk songs, breaks ‘em down, throws ‘em in a blender and resurrects them as Crazy Horse- style jams. They release their debut album at the hi dive this Saturday June 30th.

You, Me and Apollo – Singer Brent Cowles has one of those voices. Its the backbone upon which You, Me and Apollo build a mosiac of American music. Most are expanded folk songs, but they’ll dabble in blues, rock and even a little Motown feel at times. They’re working on new music and have a great new track here.

Glowing House – The interlocking, hand-in-hand harmonies of Jess Parsons and Steve Varney fuel the folk music of Glowing House. Masters of pacing and dynamics, they’ll hold you out on the edge for the briefest of beats before bringing you back to a wall of sound chorus. Just released their second album on June 9th.

The Belle Jar – Folk songs anchored by big, poppy, sing a long hooks. The Belle Jar’s Ryan James may be channeling Ryan Adams, early Wilco and The Shins. They’ll be releasing an album later in the summer.

Lee Avenue – Scott McCormick’s new songs are part Mumford and Sons, part Randy Newman and part Plastic Ono Band. His fiery, impassioned piano playing makes me think of Jerry Lee Lewis if he wrote grandiose rock songs. Lee Avenue will be releasing an album later in the year.

Blow The Vault – Bluegrass, not traditional but close. Like Allison Krause but faster and full of rippin solos. Behind the beautiful, fluttery voice of Emily Rose Lewis. Played Telluride Battle of The Bands Saturday June 23rd.

Anthony Ruptak – A bit Dylan, a bit Bright Eyes. Alluring voice, songwriting beyond his years. Released his debut album Thursday June 20th at Walnut Room.

Also, stay tuned to GtoCMagazine.com because we’re working on something very special for you regarding this wonderful folk festival. What is it? Oh I can’t tell you. I’ve been sworn to…Ok, fine I’ll just tell you. It’s a podcast! That’s right! A direct, downloadable radio show featuring music, interviews and in-studio performances from all your favorite G to C bands. We’ll start with songs from each and every one of of the bands in the G to C Folk Festival.

Its still two months away. It seems like a lifetime doesn’t it? Tickets are only $10 online and $15 at the door.

Denver’s own Blow The Vault will be playing the bluegrass band competition at Elks Park Stage at 10am on Friday. If you’re going to Telluride head up there!

Blow The Vault recently played a G to C Showcase, complete with a Prince cover. We sat down and talked after the show.

Kevin: No one has ever interviewed me before. Except for a job.

GtoC: Really? Well, where do you see yourself in five years?

Kyle: Him? Jail. Talk shows.

Kevin: Your job. Having your job.

GtoC: Let’s talk about the Telluride thing.

Kyle: I just want to say I signed us up without talking to the band. I knew I would take some shit for a while. I knew some people wouldn’t be happy, be nervous or be concerned. I was concerned. But at the same time I think our band needed something, need a guideline, need a deadline.

Emily: We just needed a push.

Kyle: I think it was our way to really get originals down.

GtoC: I think deadlines are good. They light a fire under you.

Emily: Honestly if you would have asked me I would have said “Hellllll no.”

Jim: Even so it gives us a chance to focus, a chance to work on originals which are as good as anything out there.

GtoC: I love your originals. The band itself is tighter and more together now it seems.

Emily: Yes!

Kyle: Our focus is finally there. We were always just focused on the upcoming show. Now our focus is on the future. Telluride, an album. We have a lot pegged for the summer. We can finally work on our originals which will lead us to our CD.

Emily: Everyone I talked to loves the one mic.

Kyle: It makes us more familiar. Its good to be close and hear the instruments as they are.

GtoC: One of my favorite shows I’ve seen of you guys was The Spark Theater show because everyone was so close.

Jim: That was really fun because by the end of that show the energy between the crowd and us was amazing.

Kevin: Everyone was sweating.

Emily: Except me!

Jim: It was that perfect mix. There’s no better situation when you’re making music than playing for a house full of people who are into it. Even a room full of people. Even at the park. Its wonderful.

Emily: Yep. The park. We love to play at the park.

GtoC: So a recording coming up?

Emily: We want an EP. At the end of summer.

Kyle: So just to clarify, our goal is to make the main stage. We don’t need to win. It’s not a competition to us, really. We just want to make the main stage.

Anthony Ruptak is a damn good songwriter. About four words into his set at the Strange Americans BBQ on Saturday, a backyard of musicians were glued to the restless 6’3 balladeer. His fast paced, folky songs are familiar but entirely distinct and personal. Ruptak puts the whole of his frame into his singing. When he sings it, he means it. He convinced a lot of discriminating ears to come see the release of his debut album at The Walnut Room this Thursday June 21st. I met with him and Ryan James, lead singer for The Belle Jar, who’s also playing the release show.

GtoC: Ruptak did you ever play ball?

Ryan James: You’re tall enough to play ball.

Ruptak: A lot of home school co-op recruiters that tried to get me into basketball. But I was like eh. I played football though.

Ryan James: I guess anywhere could be a bathroom. Just not all these bathrooms are socially acceptable.

Random Guy: No, man. I just love your music. It was a just one dude up there, sounding fucking awesome.

GtoC: What did you like about it?

Random Guy: The style. I’d have to say the style. It’s like, folk.

GtoC: Ruptak?

Ruptak: Folk is a dramatization of what I do. If I was folk I’d be ten years older. And I would have played my way around. Definitely folk inspiration.

Ryan James: How would you describe it?

Ruptak: Fionn Regan, pretty much. When I was a janitor at Bear Creek Golf Course I would work these 12 hour shifts. I would have the whole place to myself. They just had these giant industrial sized boxes of wine in the kitchen-

GtoC: I like where this is going.

Ryan James: This is the best artist-describing-their-genre conversation I’ve ever heard.

Ruptak: I would start my shift and clean the kitchen. So I’d get in there as soon as the kitchen staff was leaving and pour myself a giant 24 ounce cup of white wine and mop the hell out of that place. I’d listen to Fionn Regan, Andrew Bird, Bon Iver. I would just listen to my headphones while I was vacuuming 6,000 square feet of carpet. I’d sing to that. Using those real high octaves, but without screaming them.

Ryan James: Same here. I have no formal vocal training. It’s just singing to Counting Crows and stuff.

Ruptak: Yeah. So much time spent in the car going from home to work. If you don’t have good music playing that you can sing to, The National, like, they sing super low but if you sing that an octave higher its good training.

Ryan James: My two favorite National songs are the last two tracks of the last two albums.

Ruptak: The first time I had this crazy lucid dream it basically told me I had to move to Austin in a band and everything and go out for music. Long story short, it didn’t happen. But the morning after I had that dream that golf course I worked at, they called me, they said I left a sink on and flooded the entire building and they fired me. So I got in my car and the first song that came on was that one that starts with piano, it goes “Leave your home, change your name”.

Ryan James: That’s one of ‘em! “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks”.

GtoC: Why didn’t you take the universe up on its offer?

Ruptak: I started to look into Austin, because that’s what my goal was, and the fact that you have to pay to play just-

Other Random Dude: Oh fuck, you’re interviewing?

Ruptak: Yeah but its fine, come hang out.

Ryan James: Oh shit this is an interview? You’re recording this?

Ruptak: Yeah, that’s why I’m talking so much.

Ryan James: Oh shit! I need to leave.

GtoC: So tell me about the album.

Ruptak: A collection of recent and past experiences, from childhood to late childhood. It’s, I don’t really know how I feel about it because I listened to it so many times. I don’t know if it will be conveyed how I want it to because recording is such a pain in the ass. It’s so meticulous. And you have to listen to yourself so much. But hopefully people will take the lyrics for what it is. The album is a lot of stories and a lot of true experiences. Essentially, it’s all about the lyrics for me.

GtoC: Is it a reliving of that time?

Ruptak: The title is “C’est La Vie” which is French for such is life. All of my songs, they have a center, a veiled euphemism and optimism. But the stories themselves are sad and they deal with shit.

GtoC: C’est Le Vie is something people say when life isn’t going their way.

Ruptak: I’ve lived a long life. And I can’t even imagine living another ten years. Adding ten years more experience. It’s tough to imagine. Life never ceases to be disappointing and terribly tragic yet ultimately resolving somehow. That’s why I say c’est le vie a lot.

GtoC: What’s the Ruptak songwriting process?

Ruptak: A lot of it is turning on my recorder and playing for thirty or forty minutes then the next day, when the hangover wears off, go back to that recording and take out the bits and parts and put that together into a song. I love the fingerpicking. So I find a bass note that I want to start the song with. Then I find the strings around it, I want something to sound unique. I just want to do something that doesn’t sound like church music because that’s what I started out on. I try to stay away from structure and basic chord changes and try to find something that sounds different. I usually have no idea what notes and chords I’m playing at all. I just recently had to write out some chord charts for our songs so our guitar player could look at them. That was the first time I ever knew what chords I was playing.

GtoC: What do you think of the Denver scene?

Ruptak: The Denver scene is ideal for folk musicians and independent artists who care very much about what they write, not so much about how fast they can get the accolades and recognition. I think you start out playing music where it’s a lot of dubstep and rock you’re going to stand out much easier. I think the Denver scene gives anyone who’s starting out in music everything they could want. I’ve met a lot of people randomly at open mics. People are just very friendly here. It makes it easier for someone who’s trying to get a sound out there. It’s really encouraging to have a lot of people out there who enjoy this kind of music.

Anthony Ruptak’s Album Release Party is Thursday June 21st at The Walnut Room. Its a simple $5. All the info is right here

If you enjoy warm summer nights, great music and an all-you-can-buy drug flea market then head up to Red Rocks! They have quite the poverty inducing lineup this summer. Here’s a quick run down of what we’re looking forward to.

Port of Morrow is the new album from The Shins. Its about damn time! It was like 5 years since Wincing The Night Away. It was worth the wait though. It’s a power pop best of the year album from songwriter James Mercer. He poured in everything you love about The Shins plus everything you love about lots of other indie bands. Check out “Simple Song”

Wisconsin has never been so cool. Say what you will about him: he’s douchey, he Autotunes, teenage girls love him, he’s a Packer fan, Megafaun was way better, Bon Iver falsettos his way into our hearts. He’s one of the most creative song writers we have in folk music, he’s always evolving as a musician and he’s way cooler than teen indie heartthrob of yesteryear, Conor Oberst.

Wilco and Dr Dog! Two temporally displaced bands playing their power pop rock classics. If Dr. Dog doesn’t have you dancing by the end of their set you need to check your pulse. Seriously! Are you made of stone?! Wilco has made some of the most accessible and singable experimental folk in decades, maybe ever. They started out all rootsy, Americana though. Check out AM, their first album. One of our favorites here at G to C. Punch Brothers, good old fashioned bluegrass. They’re not afraid to play some sweet covers either.

Ok so Red Rocks has it the other way around but not to G to C. We’re super excited that The Lumineers will be playing Red Rocks. They were our very first post ever on G to C. Originally from New York, they transplanted to Denver and that’s where things really took off. They’re gearing up to play a couple festivals: Summercamp in the middle of Illinois, Wakarusa in the middle of Arkansas, High Sierra Festival in the middle of California, Feel Good Festival in the middle of Ohio and finally The Ride, right here in Colorado. Telluride in fact. PS – CAKE rules.

MMJ (no not that MMJ) are the pinnacle. They’re the gold standard in live rock shows. They go around the world blasting audiences with tinnitus. Band of Horses is like The Jacket’s little brother. Guitar driven, dripping reverb and catchy as all get out, Band of Horses could headline Red Rocks on their own. Bring your dancing pants Friday because Trombone Shorty is a funk, jazz, horn party. Excuse me, technically its a partay. Best show of the year right here.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Sunday August 5th and Monday August 6th

Neil freaking Young! Neil’s been teaming up with all his old friends lately, Buffalo Springfield at Bonnaroo last year. This year its Crazy Horse. Neil wrote the book on Americana. “Southern Man”, “Old Man”, “Heart of Gold”, “Harvest Moon”. The man has spacious skies and amber waves of grain running through his veins for godssake. Neil Young & Crazy Horse have a new album, aptly named Americana.

Once again, we’ve somehow convinced three of Denver’s most intriguing and intoxicating Americana bands to come share a stage at The Walnut Room. I love these showcases. We’ve got a twangy one for you this month and personally, I can’t wait to see what these all these rascally musicians have been working on.

Benji and Lou is a special one time collaboration between Strange Americans and Jeff Rady, one of Denver’s premiere slide guitarists. They’ll be playing new arrangements of all the catchy Strange Americans hits you know and love. Maybe they’ll throw a cover in there. One thing’s for sure, this is a band of massively talented musicians creating something entirely new. And if you’re like us at G to C we’re always gobbling up new local music. Gobbling.

Listening to Chris McGarry and the Insomniacs is like driving back roads from Appalachia to Denver and sticking your head out the window. You’ll hear a little bit of everywhere in his music. His first solo album has been critically lauded and we can’t wait for this next one. He’s got a Kickstarter for it. They’ve already met their funding goal but you can still preorder the album! We both know you’re gonna buy it after you see them so save yourself the hassle and buy it now.

Lee Avenue is a kaleidoscope of American music. It’s the new project from Scott McCormick and Scott Aller, formerly of Boulder Acoustic Society. Folk, soul, gospel and good old fashioned rock and roll all come together like a giant ice cream sundae of musical deliciousness. Some songs are gospel keyboards and singalong choruses. Some are like a gritty, smokey basement bar. Lee Avenue is a band you’ll be hearing more about so come see them now before your friends find out. You’ll be so cool! Cooler than your friends at least.

Get your tickets here for $5 or at the door for $8. Pay no attention to the order of the bands at Walnut Room website. Merely an internet illusion. Benji & Lou will be first, then Chris McGarry and the Insomniacs then Lee Avenue. Sorry for any confusion.

*art from Jesse Dawson
Underground Experiments is the brain child of Adam Peterson and two other friends who started it in Wisconsin. Adam took the collaboration along I-80 to Denver where he was undoubtedly sucked into the whirlpool of diverse Denver artists. Denver place is ripe for a collaboration like Underground Experiments. They, along with SynAesthetic Media, connect all sorts of artists, musicians, painters, poets and weirdos into an artistic hive mind with a local focus. Musically, they incorporate acts from all across the spectrum, from the strange and folky to rhythmic noisey ambience to political hip hop. With small artistic cells functioning around the country Underground Experiments has set the table to be a true asset to the Denver scene.

GtoC: What is the purpose and the goal of UE?

UE: Underground Experiments is a music and art collective created by Adam James Peterson, Matt Seyfert, and Charles Watson. Underground Experiments aims to connect artists together to get their art showcased. We want to help connect artists with recording, engineering, printing, production, mixing/mastering, graphic design, promotion, and distribution.

SynMed: SynAesthetic Media is a bridge between mediums and minds. We are a multimedia art collective cultivating avant-garde creativity across all spectrums of perception. We aim to revolutionize the way people conceptualize both the subjective experience of art, as well as the creative process in general by promoting unique ideas and cross platform collaborations; music, video,drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry & more… SynMed boasts an eclectic catalog of releases spanning from up-tempo triphop, dance floor bangers, dreary ambiance, lush glitchy idm, abstract folk, poignant spoken word and much more. All releases are accompanied by hi-quality visual artwork from one of our many talented artists!

GtoC: How did you come out to Colorado and get hooked up with the people here?

UE: Woke up in a crop circle outside DIA with a mission to help facilitate the creation of new art and music.

GtoC: Who are some of the artists and musicians you guys have worked with?

UE: We were able to perform at the first annual Mid West Music Fest where over 70 bands and musical acts performed to raise money for local non-profit organizations such as Winona Semcac Head Start, Winona Fine Arts Commission and Winona360. We have also opened up for Dessa Darling from Doomtree, Carnage the Executioner, Another Exoneration, and many other talented bands and artists. We’ve made mixtapes that are available for free online which feature artists such as DJ Russ P, Jesse Dawson, Witness, Darf, Abadawn, D&D Aspektz, CkC, Enable Mind, Nick Shattuck, Urges From Elsewhere, the Disabled, Father Focus Confucius, Hives Inquiry Squad, Derill Pounds, Jon LaForce, and the Jellyfish Brigade!

UE: From the creation of the mad scientist created by Izzy Harris from Madison, WI to working with over fifty local artists from CO and the Midwest, Underground experiments continues to grow, harvesting new talent and planting new seeds.

SynMed: SynMed began as an attempt to combat the hackneyed humdrum of modern aesthetics and creative processes as well as meet new and inspirational people along the way. I have already been blown away by how successful these attempts have already been; especially considering SynMed is still in an infantile state. We can only go further…

SynMed has gained an extensive body of material and is gearing up for a plethora of releases. Be sure to stay tuned for the epic upcoming split between ConsolerCTRL & Jesse Dawson.

Additionally, we plan on organizing canned food drive concerts and other charitable efforts to assist our community and give back what we can to those in need. The more people that support SynMed, the more we are able to give back to the community.